From what I've read, the X58 chipset and the processor will each have a clock generator. On the server/mainstream processors one will be locked (the one on the processor), forcing people to get the Extreme Edition processors for overclocking. Heres a random link from Google explaining it: HARDSPELL.COM-Intel banned Nehalem to overclock. Hopefully this isn't the case, the Extreme Edition's wont be super expensive or there is a way to unlock the CPU's clock generator so it can be overclocked, otherwise I'm hoping that AMD can get something worthwhile out.

From what I've read, the X58 chipset and the processor will each have a clock generator. On the server/mainstream processors one will be locked (the one on the processor), forcing people to get the Extreme Edition processors for overclocking. Heres a random link from Google explaining it: HARDSPELL.COM-Intel banned Nehalem to overclock. Hopefully this isn't the case, the Extreme Edition's wont be super expensive or there is a way to unlock the CPU's clock generator so it can be overclocked, otherwise I'm hoping that AMD can get something worthwhile out.

If you've got time to burn, and the inclination to sort through a bunch of posts, this thread may prove educational (albeit speculative). The quotes below are from someone with fairly established connections with Intel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blauhung

First off this is not the position of the company, only my personal feelings, but....

there isn't really any bus on the Lynnfield or Havendale chipsets, only the interface to the southbridge. Everything is on the package and that is all locked to where it's set at. The reason for the in package PLL is most likely because the clock generation and splitting can now all be done on die which makes for far more control over the process and less part compatibilities to worry about. The second PLL probably just sets speeds for the SB and all the other IC's on the board that need clock generation. This is not a change that is there to lock out overclocking, that is a side effect of the new platform structure.

Second, Intel is not ditching enthusiasts, they have devoted a platform specifically for them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blauhung

Yup, Intel isn't ignoring us. They are devoting entirely new platforms to this comunity. Because of the requirements that this community wants, these new platforms may cost a bit more. They are ignoring the people who get the cheap chips and make them work like the better ones do. They are not locking them out to prevent you from overclocking them. They are moving everything on die to lower power requirements and cost of production of the home and business desktop/mobile platforms with the goal of greatly improving performance per watt and dollar. This has the side effect of removing the levers that this community uses to raise the clock speed.

I repeat, this is not in place to screw this community. That just happens to be a side effect of all the improvements that 98% of the users will greatly appreciate.

In a nutshell, for the other 99%+ of the processor market that doesn't include overclockers, there are potential gains to had by putting everything on-die, including the parts that we like to screw with to get more out of our processors. If nothing else, it sounds fairly reasonable. Time will tell, of course, but the overclocking community is nothing if not resourceful, although there may be a steep learning curve required by the manufacturers.

I'm really excited for Nehalem (see avatar ). The fact that they are moving to a whole new architecture for the first time since I have been heavily interested in computers is what is really drawing me towards it. Nehalem News is an excellent place to keep updated on it, as well as research everything else that has happened since the development began.

I can't help but feel that Nehalem is quite over-hyped. It will not be offering any monsterous gains over current Quads and there will be little software to take advantage of it as well. I plan on riding my current system into the sunset until it feels like a P1. About the only real changes I have planned is a next gen (not ANY current gen) video card.

mmm thats a disturbing development if they are going to lock down the core overclocking no matter how good the chip is cw with present offerings. I guess the days of turning 2.4-2.6ghz processors into watercooled 4ghz brutes are numbered.

Hopefully AMD will sorts themselves out-aren't IBM developing something with them anyway? If only they could repeat the opteron 165 vs the pentium D battle.